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Li S, Sun H, Chen L, Fu Y. Targeting limbal epithelial stem cells: master conductors of corneal epithelial regeneration from the bench to multilevel theranostics. J Transl Med 2024; 22:794. [PMID: 39198892 PMCID: PMC11350997 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05603-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The cornea is the outermost layer of the eye and plays an essential role in our visual system. Limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs), which are localized to a highly regulated limbal niche, are the master conductors of corneal epithelial regeneration. Damage to LESCs and their niche may result in limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), a disease confused ophthalmologists so many years and can lead to corneal conjunctivalization, neovascularization, and even blindness. How to restore the LESCs function is the hot topic for ocular scientists and clinicians around the world. This review introduced LESCs and the niche microenvironment, outlined various techniques for isolating and culturing LESCs used in LSCD research, presented common diseases that cause LSCD, and provided a comprehensive overview of both the diagnosis and multiple treatments for LSCD from basic research to clinical therapies, especially the emerging cell therapies based on various stem cell sources. In addition, we also innovatively concluded the latest strategies in recent years, including exogenous drugs, tissue engineering, nanotechnology, exosome and gene therapy, as well as the ongoing clinical trials for treating LSCD in recent five years. Finally, we highlighted challenges from bench to bedside in LSCD and discussed cutting-edge areas in LSCD therapeutic research. We hope that this review could pave the way for future research and translation on treating LSCD, a crucial step in the field of ocular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiding Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Liangbo Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Yao Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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Atewologun FA, Okesanya OJ, Okon II, Kayode HH, Ukoaka BM, Olaleke NO, Ogaya JB, Okikiola LA, Manirambona E, Lucero-Prisno Iii DE. Examining the potentials of stem cell therapy in reducing the burden of selected non-communicable diseases in Africa. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:253. [PMID: 39135088 PMCID: PMC11321202 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03864-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapy (SCT) is a promising solution for addressing health challenges in Africa, particularly non-communicable diseases (NCDs). With their regenerative potential, stem cells have the inherent capacity to differentiate into numerous cell types for tissue repair. Despite infrastructural, ethical, and legal challenges, SCT holds immense promise for managing chronic illnesses and deep-seated tissue injuries. The rising prevalence of NCDs in Africa highlights the need for innovative strategies and treatment options. SCT offers hope in combating conditions like burns, osteoarthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, heart failure and cancer, potentially reducing the burden of NCDs on the continent. Despite SCT's opportunities in Africa, there are significant obstacles. However, published research on SCT in Africa is scarce, but recent initiatives such as the Basic School on Neural Stem Cells (NSC) express interest in developing NSC research in Africa. SCT research in African regions, notably on neurogenesis, demonstrates a concentration on studying neurological processes in indigenous settings. While progress has been made in South Africa and Nigeria, issues such as brain drain and impediments to innovation remain. Clinical trials have investigated the efficacy of stem cell treatments, emphasising both potential benefits and limitations in implementing these therapies efficiently. Financing research, developing regulatory frameworks, and resolving affordability concerns are critical steps toward realizing the potential of stem cell treatment in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Inibehe Ime Okon
- Department of Research, Medical Research Circle (MedReC), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Postal Code 50 Goma, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
| | - Hassan Hakeem Kayode
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria
| | | | - Noah Olabode Olaleke
- Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Jerico Bautista Ogaya
- Department of Medical Technology, Far Eastern University, Manila, Philippines
- Center for University Research, University of Makati, Makati City, Philippines
| | - Lawal Azeez Okikiola
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, USA
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria
| | - Emery Manirambona
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno Iii
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Research and Innovation Office, Southern Leyte State University, Sogod, Southern Leyte, Philippines
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3
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Di Girolamo N. Biologicals and Biomaterials for Corneal Regeneration and Vision Restoration in Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2401763. [PMID: 38777343 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202401763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The mammalian cornea is decorated with stem cells bestowed with the life-long task of renewing the epithelium, provided they remain healthy, functional, and in sufficient numbers. If not, a debilitating disease known as limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) can develop causing blindness. Decades after the first stem cell (SC) therapy is devised to treat this condition, patients continue to suffer unacceptable failures. During this time, improvements to therapeutics have included identifying better markers to isolate robust SC populations and nurturing them on crudely modified biological or biomaterial scaffolds including human amniotic membrane, fibrin, and contact lenses, prior to their delivery. Researchers are now gathering information about the biomolecular and biomechanical properties of the corneal SC niche to decipher what biological and/or synthetic materials can be incorporated into these carriers. Advances in biomedical engineering including electrospinning and 3D bioprinting with surface functionalization and micropatterning, and self-assembly models, have generated a wealth of biocompatible, biodegradable, integrating scaffolds to choose from, some of which are being tested for their SC delivery capacity in the hope of improving clinical outcomes for patients with LSCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Di Girolamo
- Mechanisms of Disease and Translational Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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Surico PL, Scarabosio A, Miotti G, Grando M, Salati C, Parodi PC, Spadea L, Zeppieri M. Unlocking the versatile potential: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in ocular surface reconstruction and oculoplastics. World J Stem Cells 2024; 16:89-101. [PMID: 38455097 PMCID: PMC10915950 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v16.i2.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
This review comprehensively explores the versatile potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with a specific focus on adipose-derived MSCs. Ophthalmic and oculoplastic surgery, encompassing diverse procedures for ocular and periocular enhancement, demands advanced solutions for tissue restoration, functional and aesthetic refinement, and aging. Investigating immunomodulatory, regenerative, and healing capacities of MSCs, this review underscores the potential use of adipose-derived MSCs as a cost-effective alternative from bench to bedside, addressing common unmet needs in the field of reconstructive and regenerative surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier Luigi Surico
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome 00128, Italy
| | - Anna Scarabosio
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital of Udine, Udine 33100, Italy
| | - Giovanni Miotti
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital of Udine, Udine 33100, Italy
| | - Martina Grando
- Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Sanitaria Friuli Occidentale, San Vito al Tagliamento 33078, Italy
| | - Carlo Salati
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Udine, Udine 33100, Italy
| | - Pier Camillo Parodi
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital of Udine, Udine 33100, Italy
| | - Leopoldo Spadea
- Eye Clinic, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00142, Italy
| | - Marco Zeppieri
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Udine, Udine 33100, Italy.
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Yu Y, Andreev AY, Rogovaya OS, Subbot AM, Domogatsky SP, Avetisov SE, Vorotelyak EA, Osidak EO. Matrix-Assisted Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency in a Rabbit Model. Biomedicines 2024; 12:101. [PMID: 38255207 PMCID: PMC10813050 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
With the development of regenerative medicine in ophthalmology, the identification of cells with high proliferative potential in the limbal area has attracted the attention of ophthalmologists and offered a new option for treatment in clinical practice. Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is an identified eye disease with a difficult and negative outcome, for which the traditional treatment is keratoplasty. This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of matrix-assisted cell transplantation consisting of in vitro-cultured autologous limbal stem cells (LSCs) and type I collagen for the treatment of LSCD in rabbits. LSCD was induced in 10 rabbits by a combination of mechanical limbectomy and alkali burns. Cells were cultured on a plate for 14 days before being transferred to a collagen-based matrix for another 7 days. Rabbits were divided into two groups as follows: the experimental group (five rabbits) received matrix-assisted cell transplantation, while the control group (five rabbits) received only conservative therapy with anti-inflammatory eye drops. During the postoperative period, all rabbits were examined using slit-lamp biomicroscopy with photo-registration and fluorescent staining, impression cytology and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Rabbits were euthanized at 30 and 120 days, and their corneas were processed for histology and immunohistochemistry. As a consequence, rabbits in the experimental group demonstrated the restoration of the corneal epithelium and transparency without epithelial defects. Moreover, goblet cells were absent in the central zone of the corneal epithelium. In conclusion, our new method of treatment enhanced the corneal surface and is an effective method of treatment for LSCD in rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yu
- Department of Eye Diseases, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 8-2, Trubetskaya Street, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey Yurevich Andreev
- Department of Eye Diseases, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 8-2, Trubetskaya Street, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Pathologies of Optical Medium of the Eye, Krasnov Research Institute of Eye Diseases, 11A Rossolimo St., 119021 Moscow, Russia
- R&D Department, Imtek Ltd., 3rd Cherepkovskaya 15A, 121552 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Olga Sergeevna Rogovaya
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology Russian Academy of Science, 26, Vavilova St., 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia Mikhailovna Subbot
- Laboratory of Basic Research in Ophthalmology, Krasnov Research Institute of Eye Diseases, 11A Rossolimo St., 119021 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey Petrovich Domogatsky
- R&D Department, Imtek Ltd., 3rd Cherepkovskaya 15A, 121552 Moscow, Russia;
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, FSBI National Medical Research Centre of Cardiology Name after Academician E.I. Chazov of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Academika Chazova St., 15A, 121552 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey Eduardovich Avetisov
- Department of Eye Diseases, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 8-2, Trubetskaya Street, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Pathologies of Optical Medium of the Eye, Krasnov Research Institute of Eye Diseases, 11A Rossolimo St., 119021 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina Andreevna Vorotelyak
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology Russian Academy of Science, 26, Vavilova St., 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Egor Olegovich Osidak
- R&D Department, Imtek Ltd., 3rd Cherepkovskaya 15A, 121552 Moscow, Russia;
- Laboratory of Cellular Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Immunology, Samora Machel St., 1, 117997 Moscow, Russia
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Pérez I, Galindo S, López-Miguel A, Nieto-Miguel T, de la Mata A, López-Paniagua M, Alberca M, Herreras JM, Calonge M. In Vivo Confocal Microscopy in Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency After Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation: A Sub-analysis from a Phase I-II Clinical Trial. Ophthalmol Ther 2023; 12:3251-3262. [PMID: 37773479 PMCID: PMC10640524 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-023-00809-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (MSCT) and cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) therapies on the limbus of patients suffering from limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). METHODS A sub-analysis of a phase I-II randomized, controlled, and double-masked clinical trial was performed to assess the changes in the anatomical structures of the limbus. In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) analysis was carried out in LSCD eyes before and 12 months after allogeneic MSCT or CLET. Epithelial phenotype of the central cornea, as well as the presence of transition zones and palisades of Vogt in the limbus, were assessed using Wilcoxon test. RESULTS Twenty-three LSCD (14 MSCT and nine CLET) eyes were included. The epithelial phenotype of the central cornea improved significantly (p < 0.001) from 15 (eight MSCT, seven CLET) and eight (six MSCT, two CLET) LSCD eyes showing conjunctival and mixed phenotypes, respectively, to eight (five MSCT, three CLET), five (two MSCT, three CLET), and ten (seven MSCT, three CLET) eyes showing conjunctival, mixed, and corneal phenotypes, respectively. Transition areas and palisades of Vogt were observed in at least one quadrant in nine (five MSCT, four CLET) and 16 (nine MSCT, seven CLET), and in four (two MSCT, two CLET) and six (three MSCT, three CLET) LSCD eyes before and after surgery, respectively. Changes in the transition zones and palisades were solely significant (p = 0.046) for the nasal and inferior quadrants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS MSCT and CLET improved the central corneal epithelial phenotype despite only minor changes in the anatomical structures of the limbus, as detected by IVCM technology. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01562002.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Pérez
- IOBA (Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology), Universidad de Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, Paseo Belén, 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Sara Galindo
- IOBA (Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology), Universidad de Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, Paseo Belén, 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain
- CIBER-BBN (Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Valladolid, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Genetics, Histology and Pharmacology, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Alberto López-Miguel
- IOBA (Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology), Universidad de Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, Paseo Belén, 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain.
- Departamento de Cirugía, Oftalmología, Otorrinolaringología y Fisioterapia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
| | - Teresa Nieto-Miguel
- IOBA (Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology), Universidad de Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, Paseo Belén, 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain
- CIBER-BBN (Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Valladolid, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Genetics, Histology and Pharmacology, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Ana de la Mata
- IOBA (Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology), Universidad de Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, Paseo Belén, 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain
- CIBER-BBN (Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Marina López-Paniagua
- IOBA (Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology), Universidad de Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, Paseo Belén, 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain
- CIBER-BBN (Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Valladolid, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Genetics, Histology and Pharmacology, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Centro en Red de Medicina Regenerativa y Terapia Celular de Castilla y León, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Alberca
- IBGM (Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics) and University Scientific Park, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - José M Herreras
- IOBA (Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology), Universidad de Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, Paseo Belén, 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain
- CIBER-BBN (Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Valladolid, Spain
- Departamento de Cirugía, Oftalmología, Otorrinolaringología y Fisioterapia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Margarita Calonge
- IOBA (Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology), Universidad de Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, Paseo Belén, 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain
- CIBER-BBN (Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Valladolid, Spain
- Departamento de Cirugía, Oftalmología, Otorrinolaringología y Fisioterapia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
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Liu LC, Chen YH, Lu DW. Overview of Recent Advances in Nano-Based Ocular Drug Delivery. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15352. [PMID: 37895032 PMCID: PMC10607833 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Ocular diseases profoundly impact patients' vision and overall quality of life globally. However, effective ocular drug delivery presents formidable challenges within clinical pharmacology and biomaterial science, primarily due to the intricate anatomical and physiological barriers unique to the eye. In this comprehensive review, we aim to shed light on the anatomical and physiological features of the eye, emphasizing the natural barriers it presents to drug administration. Our goal is to provide a thorough overview of various characteristics inherent to each nano-based drug delivery system. These encompass nanomicelles, nanoparticles, nanosuspensions, nanoemulsions, microemulsions, nanofibers, dendrimers, liposomes, niosomes, nanowafers, contact lenses, hydrogels, microneedles, and innovative gene therapy approaches employing nano-based ocular delivery techniques. We delve into the biology and methodology of these systems, introducing their clinical applications over the past decade. Furthermore, we discuss the advantages and challenges illuminated by recent studies. While nano-based drug delivery systems for ophthalmic formulations are gaining increasing attention, further research is imperative to address potential safety and toxicity concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Da-Wen Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (L.-C.L.); (Y.-H.C.)
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Lee JY, Kim S, Sohn HJ, Kim CH, Kim TG, Lee HS. Local Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Impair Progression of Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis by Alleviating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023; 64:39. [PMID: 37878302 PMCID: PMC10615146 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.13.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the immune regulatory effect of human cord blood myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) models. Methods MDSCs (1 × 106) or PBS were injected into established C57BL/6 EAU mice via the subconjunctival route on days 0 and 7. The severity of intraocular inflammation was evaluated for up to 3 weeks. Tissue injury and inflammation were analyzed using immunolabelled staining, real-time PCR, and ELISA. In addition, immune cells in draining lymph nodes (LNs) were quantified using flow cytometry. Results After 21 days, the clinical scores and histopathological grades of EAU were lower in the MDSCs group compared with the PBS group. Local administration of MDSCs suppressed the oxidative stress and the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in the retinal tissues. In addition, it inhibited the activation of pathogenic T helper 1 (Th1) and Th17 cells in draining LNs. MDSCs increased the frequency of CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and the mRNA expression of IL-10, as an immune modulator. Conclusions MDSCs suppressed inflammation and oxidative stress in the retina and inhibited pathogenic T cells in the LNs in EAU. Therefore, ocular administration of MDSCs has therapeutic potential for uveitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Young Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sueon Kim
- ViGenCell Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | - Tai-Gyu Kim
- ViGenCell Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Catholic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Bank, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Soo Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States
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9
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Soleimani M, Mirshahi R, Cheraqpour K, Baharnoori SM, Massoumi H, Chow C, Shahjahan S, Momenaei B, Ashraf MJ, Koganti R, Ghassemi M, Anwar KN, Jalilian E, Djalilian AR. Intrastromal versus subconjunctival injection of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells for promoting corneal repair. Ocul Surf 2023; 30:187-195. [PMID: 37758115 PMCID: PMC10841412 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2023.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Different approaches to delivery of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) for ameliorating corneal injuries have been investigated. This study was aimed to compare the efficacy of intrastromal and subconjunctival injection of human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hBM-MSCs) in a corneal epithelial injury model. METHODS Twenty-four C57BL/6J mice underwent total corneal and limbal epithelial debridement. Then, the mice were divided into three different groups: (1) intrastromal hBM-MSCs injection, (2) subconjunctival hBM-MSCs injection, and (3) injection of frozen medium as a control. Mice were monitored by slit lamp and underwent anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT). Following euthanasia, the corneas were further evaluated by histology and immunostaining. RESULTS hBM-MSC injection successfully healed epithelial defects regardless of the delivery route (P < 0.001). However, intrastromal injection was superior to subconjunctival injection in reducing defect area (P = 0.001). Intrastromal injection of hBM-MSCs also significantly reduced corneal opacity and neovascularization and improved ASOCT parameters compared to subconjunctival injection or no treatment (P < 0.001, P = 0.003, and P < 0.001, respectively). Although both of the treatment groups were positive for CK12 and had reduced levels of MUC5AC compared to the control, CK12 staining was stronger in the intrastromal group compared to the subconjunctival group. Also, persistency of MSCs was confirmed by in vivo (up to 2 weeks) and in vitro assessments (up to 4 weeks). CONCLUSIONS Although the injection of hBM-MSC using both intrastromal and subconjunctival methods improve wound healing and reduce neovascularization and opacity, the intrastromal approach is superior in terms of corneal healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Soleimani
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Reza Mirshahi
- Eye Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Kasra Cheraqpour
- Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Seyed Mahbod Baharnoori
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Hamed Massoumi
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Collin Chow
- Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA.
| | | | - Bita Momenaei
- Wills Eye Hospital, Mid Atlantic Retina, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Mohammad Javad Ashraf
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Raghuram Koganti
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Mahmood Ghassemi
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Khandaker N Anwar
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Elmira Jalilian
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Ali R Djalilian
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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10
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Bonnet C, González S, Deng SX, Zheng JJ. Wnt activation as a potential therapeutic approach to treat partial limbal stem cell deficiency. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15670. [PMID: 37735479 PMCID: PMC10514048 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42794-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cells (LSCs) are adult stem cells located at the limbus, tightly regulated by their niche involving numerous signaling pathways, such as Wnt. Wnt proteins are secreted morphogens that play critical roles in embryonic development, stem cell proliferation, self-renewal, tissue regeneration, and remodeling in adults. It has been shown that a small molecule Wnt mimic could improve LSCs expansion ex vivo. Damage to the LSCs and/or their niche can lead to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), a condition that can cause corneal blindness and is difficult to treat. This study explored if repopulating residual LSCs in partial LSCD through Wnt activation could be a novel therapeutic approach. To mimic LSCD due to a chemical injury, single cultured LSCs were exposed to various concentrations of sodium hydroxide. A progressive loss of the LSCs phenotype was observed: the percentage of p63bright cells and cytokeratin (K)14+ cells decreased while the percentage of K12+ increased. Wnt activation was attained by treating the LSCs with lithium chloride (LiCl) and a small-molecule Wnt mimic, respectively. After 18 h of treatment, LSCs proliferation was increased, and the LSCs phenotype was recovered, while the untreated cells did not proliferate and lost their phenotype. The percentage of p63bright cells was significantly higher in the Wnt mimic-treated cells compared with untreated cells, while the percentage of K12+ cells was significantly lower. These findings suggest that local Wnt activation may rescue LSCs upon alkaline injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Bonnet
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 100 Stein Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Cordeliers Research Center, Ophthalmology Department, Cochin Hospital, AP-HP, Université Paris Cité, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Sheyla González
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 100 Stein Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Sophie X Deng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 100 Stein Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jie J Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 100 Stein Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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11
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Yu F, Gong D, Yan D, Wang H, Witman N, Lu Y, Fu W, Fu Y. Enhanced adipose-derived stem cells with IGF-1-modified mRNA promote wound healing following corneal injury. Mol Ther 2023; 31:2454-2471. [PMID: 37165618 PMCID: PMC10422019 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The cornea serves as an important barrier structure to the eyeball and is vulnerable to injuries, which may lead to scarring and blindness if not treated promptly. To explore an effective treatment that could achieve multi-dimensional repair of the injured cornea, the study herein innovatively combined modified mRNA (modRNA) technologies with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) therapy, and applied IGF-1 modRNA (modIGF1)-engineered ADSCs (ADSCmodIGF1) to alkali-burned corneas in mice. The therapeutic results showed that ADSCmodIGF1 treatment could achieve the most extensive recovery of corneal morphology and function when compared not only with simple ADSCs but also IGF-1 protein eyedrops, which was reflected by the healing of corneal epithelium and limbus, the inhibition of corneal stromal fibrosis, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, and also the repair of corneal nerves. In vitro experiments further proved that ADSCmodIGF1 could more significantly promote the activity of trigeminal ganglion cells and maintain the stemness of limbal stem cells than simple ADSCs, which were also essential for reconstructing corneal homeostasis. Through a combinatorial treatment regimen of cell-based therapy with mRNA technology, this study highlighted comprehensive repair in the damaged cornea and showed the outstanding application prospect in the treatment of corneal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200011, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Danni Gong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200011, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Dan Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200011, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Huijing Wang
- Institute of Pediatric Translational Medicine, Department of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Nevin Witman
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yang Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200011, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai 200011, China.
| | - Wei Fu
- Institute of Pediatric Translational Medicine, Department of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
| | - Yao Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200011, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai 200011, China.
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12
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Sahoo A, Damala M, Jaffet J, Prasad D, Basu S, Singh V. Expansion and characterization of human limbus-derived stromal/mesenchymal stem cells in xeno-free medium for therapeutic applications. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:89. [PMID: 37061739 PMCID: PMC10105964 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03299-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been proven to prevent and clear corneal scarring and limbal stem cell deficiency. However, using animal-derived serum in a culture medium raises the ethical and regulatory bar. This study aims to expand and characterize human limbus-derived stromal/mesenchymal stem cells (hLMSCs) for the first time in vitro in the xeno-free medium. METHODS Limbal tissue was obtained from therapeutic grade corneoscleral rims and subjected to explant culture till tertiary passage in media with and without serum (STEM MACS XF; SM), to obtain pure hLMSCs. Population doubling time, cell proliferation, expression of phenotypic markers, tri-lineage differentiation, colony-forming potential and gene expression analysis were carried out to assess the retention of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of hLMSCs. RESULTS The serum-free medium supported the growth of hLMSCs, retaining similar morphology but a significantly lower doubling time of 23 h (*p < 0.01) compared to the control medium. FACS analysis demonstrated ≥ 90% hLMSCs were positive for CD90+, CD73+, CD105+, and ≤ 6% were positive for CD45-, CD34- and HLA-DR-. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed similar expression of Pax6+, COL IV+, ABCG2+, ABCB5+, VIM+, CD90+, CD105+, CD73+, HLA-DR- and CD45-, αSMA- in both the media. Tri-lineage differentiation potential and gene expression of hLMSCs were retained similarly to that of the control medium. CONCLUSION The findings of this study demonstrate successful isolation, characterization and culture optimization of hLMSCs for the first time in vitro in a serum-free environment. This will help in the future pre-clinical and clinical applications of MSCs in translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Sahoo
- Centre for Ocular Regeneration, Prof. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Mukesh Damala
- Centre for Ocular Regeneration, Prof. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Jilu Jaffet
- Centre for Ocular Regeneration, Prof. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Deeksha Prasad
- Centre for Ocular Regeneration, Prof. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Sayan Basu
- Centre for Ocular Regeneration, Prof. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
| | - Vivek Singh
- Centre for Ocular Regeneration, Prof. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
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Ding W, Yang X, Lin H, Xu Z, Wang J, Dai J, Xu C, Chen F, Wen X, Chai W, Ruan G. Mechanism-Driven Technology Development for Solving the Intracellular Delivery Problem of Hard-To-Transfect Cells. NANO LETTERS 2023. [PMID: 36971675 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c04834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The so-called "hard-to-transfect cells" are well-known to present great challenges to intracellular delivery, but detailed understandings of the delivery behaviors are lacking. Recently, we discovered that vesicle trapping is a likely bottleneck of delivery into a type of hard-to-transfect cells, namely, bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Driven by this insight, herein, we screened various vesicle trapping-reducing methods on BMSCs. Most of these methods failed in BMSCs, although they worked well in HeLa cells. In stark contrast, coating nanoparticles with a specific form of poly(disulfide) (called PDS1) nearly completely circumvented vesicle trapping in BMSCs, by direct cell membrane penetration mediated by thiol-disulfide exchange. Further, in BMSCs, PDS1-coated nanoparticles dramatically enhanced the transfection efficiency of plasmids of fluorescent proteins and substantially improved osteoblastic differentiation. In addition, mechanistic studies suggested that higher cholesterol content in plasma membranes of BMSCs might be a molecular-level reason for the greater difficulty of vesicle escape in BMSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanchuan Ding
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Xuan Yang
- Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Nanobiotechnology & Nanomedicine Center, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Cell & Gene Therapy Center, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Huoyue Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Zixing Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Nanobiotechnology & Nanomedicine Center, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Cell & Gene Therapy Center, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jun Wang
- College of Biological and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Jie Dai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Can Xu
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Xiaowei Wen
- Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Nanobiotechnology & Nanomedicine Center, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Cell & Gene Therapy Center, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Weiran Chai
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Gang Ruan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Nanobiotechnology & Nanomedicine Center, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Cell & Gene Therapy Center, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Institute of Materials Engineering of Nanjing University, Nantong 210033, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen 518063, China
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14
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Wang Y, Di G, Zhang K, Bai Y, Cao X, Zhao H, Wang D, Chen P. Loss of aquaporin 5 contributes to the corneal epithelial pathogenesis via Wnt/β-catenin pathway. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22776. [PMID: 36688817 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201503r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
AQP5 plays a crucial role in maintaining corneal transparency and the barrier function of the cornea. Here, we found that in the corneas of Aqp5-/- mice at older than 6 months, loss of AQP5 significantly increased corneal neovascularization, inflammatory cell infiltration, and corneal haze. The results of immunofluorescence staining showed that upregulation of K1, K10, and K14, and downregulation of K12 and Pax6 were detected in Aqp5-/- cornea and primary corneal epithelial cells. Loss of AQP5 aggravated wound-induced corneal neovascularization, inflammation, and haze. mRNA sequencing, western blotting, and qRT-PCR showed that Wnt2 and Wnt6 were significantly decreased in Aqp5-/- corneas and primary corneal epithelial cells, accompanied by decreased aggregation in the cytoplasm and nucleus of β-catenin. IIIC3 significantly suppressed corneal neovascularization, inflammation, haze, and maintained corneal transparent epithelial in Aqp5-/- corneas. We also found that pre-stimulated Aqp5-/- primary corneal epithelial cells with IIIC3 caused the decreased expression of K1, K10, and K14, the increased expression of K12, Pax6, and increased aggregation in the cytoplasm and nucleus of β-catenin. These findings revealed that AQP5 may regulate corneal epithelial homeostasis and function through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Together, we uncovered a possible role of AQP5 in determining corneal epithelial cell fate and providing a potential therapeutic target for corneal epithelial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihui Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Guohu Di
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Stem Cell Regeneration Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Kaier Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ying Bai
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xin Cao
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- The 971 Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, Qingdao, China
| | - Dianqiang Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Qingdao Aier Eye Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Stem Cell Regeneration Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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15
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Cadenas-Martin M, Arnalich-Montiel F, Miguel MPD. Derivation of Limbal Stem Cells from Human Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032350. [PMID: 36768672 PMCID: PMC9916480 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 10 million individuals have blindness due to limbal stem cell (LSCs) deficiency, one of the most challenging problems in ophthalmology. To replenish the LSC pool, an autologous extraocular cell source is appropriate, thereby avoiding the risk of immune rejection, the need for immunosuppression and the risk of damaging the contralateral eye. In recent years, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) have been a key element in ocular regenerative medicine. In this study, we developed a protocol for deriving human LSCs from ADSCs compatible with the standard carrier human amniotic membrane, helping provide a stem cell pool capable of maintaining proper corneal epithelial homeostasis. The best protocol included an ectodermal induction step by culturing ADSCs with media containing fetal bovine serum, transforming growth factor-β inhibitor SB-505124, Wnt inhibitor IWP-2 and FGF2 for 7 days, followed by an LSC induction step of culture in modified supplemental hormonal epithelial medium supplemented with pigment epithelium-derived factor and keratinocyte growth factor for 10 additional days. The optimal differentiation efficiency was achieved when cells were cultured in this manner over vitronectin coating, resulting in up to 50% double-positive αp63/BMI-1 cells. The results of this project will benefit patients with LSC deficiency, aiding the restoration of vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cadenas-Martin
- Cell Engineering Laboratory, La Paz University Hospital Health Research Institute, IdiPAZ, 28046 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Arnalich-Montiel
- Ophthalmology Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria P De Miguel
- Ophthalmology Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute, 28034 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-912-071458
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16
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PAX6 Expression Patterns in the Adult Human Limbal Stem Cell Niche. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030400. [PMID: 36766742 PMCID: PMC9913671 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Paired box 6 (PAX6), a nuclear transcription factor, determines the fate of limbal epithelial progenitor cells (LEPC) and maintains epithelial cell identity. However, the expression of PAX6 in limbal niche cells, primarily mesenchymal stromal cells (LMSC), and melanocytes is scarce and not entirely clear. To distinctly assess the PAX6 expression in limbal niche cells, fresh and organ-cultured human corneoscleral tissues were stained immunohistochemically. Furthermore, the expression of PAX6 in cultured limbal cells was investigated. Immunostaining revealed the presence of PAX6-negative cells which were positive for vimentin and the melanocyte markers Melan-A and human melanoma black-45 in the basal layer of the limbal epithelium. PAX6 staining was not observed in the limbal stroma. Moreover, the expression of PAX6 was observed by Western blot in cultured LEPC but not in cultured LMSC or LM. These data indicate a restriction of PAX6 expression to limbal epithelial cells at the limbal stem cell niche. These observations warrant further studies for the presence of other PAX isoforms in the limbal stem cell niche.
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17
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Soleimani M, Cheraqpour K, Koganti R, Baharnoori SM, Djalilian AR. Concise Review: Bioengineering of Limbal Stem Cell Niche. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:111. [PMID: 36671683 PMCID: PMC9855097 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10010111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The corneal epithelium is composed of nonkeratinized stratified squamous cells and has a significant turnover rate. Limbal integrity is vital to maintain the clarity and avascularity of the cornea as well as regeneration of the corneal epithelium. Limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) are located in the basal epithelial layer of the limbus and preserve this homeostasis. Proper functioning of LESCs is dependent on a specific microenvironment, known as the limbal stem cell niche (LSCN). This structure is made up of various cells, an extracellular matrix (ECM), and signaling molecules. Different etiologies may damage the LSCN, leading to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), which is characterized by conjunctivalization of the cornea. In this review, we first summarize the basics of the LSCN and then focus on current and emerging bioengineering strategies for LSCN restoration to combat LSCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Soleimani
- Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1336616351, Iran
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Kasra Cheraqpour
- Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1336616351, Iran
| | - Raghuram Koganti
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Seyed Mahbod Baharnoori
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Ali R. Djalilian
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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18
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Soleimani M, Masoumi A, Momenaei B, Cheraqpour K, Koganti R, Chang AY, Ghassemi M, Djalilian AR. Applications of mesenchymal stem cells in ocular surface diseases: sources and routes of delivery. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2023; 23:509-525. [PMID: 36719365 PMCID: PMC10313829 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2023.2175605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are novel, promising agents for treating ocular surface disorders. MSCs can be isolated from several tissues and delivered by local or systemic routes. They produce several trophic factors and cytokines, which affect immunomodulatory, transdifferentiating, angiogenic, and pro-survival pathways in their local microenvironment via paracrine secretion. Moreover, they exert their therapeutic effect through a contact-dependent manner. AREAS COVERED In this review, we discuss the characteristics, sources, delivery methods, and applications of MSCs in ocular surface disorders. We also explore the potential application of MSCs to inhibit senescence at the ocular surface. EXPERT OPINION Therapeutic application of MSCs in ocular surface disorders are currently under investigation. One major research area is corneal epitheliopathies, including chemical or thermal burns, limbal stem cell deficiency, neurotrophic keratopathy, and infectious keratitis. MSCs can promote corneal epithelial repair and prevent visually devastating sequelae of non-healing wounds. However, the optimal dosages and delivery routes have yet to be determined and further clinical trials are needed to address these fundamental questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Soleimani
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Masoumi
- Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bita Momenaei
- Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kasra Cheraqpour
- Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Raghuram Koganti
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Arthur Y Chang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mahmoud Ghassemi
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ali R Djalilian
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Romanov YA. [Corneal regeneration: is there a place for tissues of perinatal origin?]. Vestn Oftalmol 2023; 139:121-128. [PMID: 37942606 DOI: 10.17116/oftalma2023139051121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The article reviews the main properties of the cornea and the mechanisms of its physiological regeneration and repair in response to damage and describes the most promising methods of treatment aimed at stimulating limbal stem cells and based on the use of native tissues of perinatal origin, umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells, and cell-free therapeutic products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu A Romanov
- National Medical Research Center of Cardiology Named After Academician E.I. Chazov, Moscow, Russia
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20
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Kim MS, Chung HJ, Kim KI. Optimal concentration of mesenchymal stem cells for fracture healing in a rat model with long bone fracture. World J Stem Cells 2022; 14:839-850. [PMID: 36619692 PMCID: PMC9813838 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v14.i12.839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is still no consensus on which concentration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to use for promoting fracture healing in a rat model of long bone fracture.
AIM To assess the optimal concentration of MSCs for promoting fracture healing in a rat model.
METHODS Wistar rats were divided into four groups according to MSC concentrations: Normal saline (C), 2.5 × 106 (L), 5.0 × 106 (M), and 10.0 × 106 (H) groups. The MSCs were injected directly into the fracture site. The rats were sacrificed at 2 and 6 wk post-fracture. New bone formation [bone volume (BV) and percentage BV (PBV)] was evaluated using micro-computed tomography (CT). Histological analysis was performed to evaluate fracture healing score. The protein expression of factors related to MSC migration [stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)] and angiogenesis [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)] was evaluated using western blot analysis. The expression of cytokines associated with osteogenesis [bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), TGF-β1 and VEGF] was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS Micro-CT showed that BV and PBV was significantly increased in groups M and H compared to that in group C at 6 wk post-fracture (P = 0.040, P = 0.009; P = 0.004, P = 0.001, respectively). Significantly more cartilaginous tissue and immature bone were formed in groups M and H than in group C at 2 and 6 wk post-fracture (P = 0.018, P = 0.010; P = 0.032, P = 0.050, respectively). At 2 wk post-fracture, SDF-1, TGF-β1 and VEGF expression were significantly higher in groups M and H than in group L (P = 0.031, P = 0.014; P < 0.001, P < 0.001; P = 0.025, P < 0.001, respectively). BMP-2 and VEGF expression were significantly higher in groups M and H than in group C at 6 wk post-fracture (P = 0.037, P = 0.038; P = 0.021, P = 0.010). Compared to group L, TGF-β1 expression was significantly higher in groups H (P = 0.016). There were no significant differences in expression levels of chemokines related to MSC migration, angiogenesis and cytokines associated with osteogenesis between M and H groups at 2 and 6 wk post-fracture.
CONCLUSION The administration of at least 5.0 × 106 MSCs was optimal to promote fracture healing in a rat model of long bone fractures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myung-Seo Kim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University and Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul 05278, South Korea
| | - Hyun-Ju Chung
- Department of Core Research Laboratory, Clinical Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul 05278, South Korea
| | - Kang-Il Kim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University and Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul 05278, South Korea
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21
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Local and Systemic Injections of Human Cord Blood Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells to Prevent Graft Rejection in Corneal Transplantation. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123223. [PMID: 36551981 PMCID: PMC9776015 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are therapeutic agents to prevent graft rejection in organ transplants by modulating inflammation. Herein, the immunosuppressive effect of human cord blood MDSCs on corneal allograft models was confirmed. CB-MDSCs were locally (subconjuctival, 5 × 105) or systemically (intravenous, 1 × 106) injected twice on days 0 and 7. A corneal transplantation model was established using C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, and corneal graft opacity was measured to evaluate graft rejection up to 6 weeks. Results showed that graft survival in the MDSCs groups increased compared to vehicle groups after 42 days. Systemic and local MDSC administration inhibited the maturation (MHC-IIhi CD11c+) of dendritic cells (DCs) and the differentiation of interferon γ+ CD4+ Th1 in draining lymph nodes (LNs). However, vehicle groups increased the infiltration of CD3+ T cells and F4/80+ macrophages and produced prominent neovascular and lymphatic vessels into the graft site with increased mRNA expression of VEGF-A/C and VEGFR-1/R-3. Local MDSCs administration showed prominent anti-angiogenic/anti-lymphangiogenic effects even at lower MDSCs doses. Thus, CB-MDSCs could relatively suppress the infiltration of pathological T cells/macrophages into the corneas and the migration of mature DCs into draining LNs Therefore, ocular and systemic MDSCs administration showed therapeutic potential for preventing corneal allograft rejection.
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22
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Lee V, Rompolas P. Corneal regeneration: insights in epithelial stem cell heterogeneity and dynamics. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2022; 77:101981. [PMID: 36084496 PMCID: PMC9938714 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.101981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of slow-cycling cells at the corneal periphery three decades ago established the limbus as the putative corneal stem cell niche. Since then, studies have underscored the importance of the limbal stem cells in maintaining the health and function of the ocular surface. Advancements in our understanding of stem cell biology have been successfully translated into stem cell therapies for corneal diseases. Here, we review recent developments in mouse genetics, intravital imaging, and single-cell genomics that have revealed an underappreciated complexity of the limbal stem cells, from their molecular identity, function, and interactions with their niche environment. Continued efforts to elucidate stem cell dynamics of this extraordinary tissue are critical for not only understanding stem cell biology but also for advancing therapeutic innovation and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Panteleimon Rompolas
- Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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23
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Ying PX, Fu M, Huang C, Li ZH, Mao QY, Fu S, Jia XH, Cao YC, Hong LB, Cai LY, Guo X, Liu RB, Meng FK, Yi GG. Profile of biological characterizations and clinical application of corneal stem/progenitor cells. World J Stem Cells 2022; 14:777-797. [PMID: 36483848 PMCID: PMC9724387 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v14.i11.777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal stem/progenitor cells are typical adult stem/progenitor cells. The human cornea covers the front of the eyeball, which protects the eye from the outside environment while allowing vision. The location and function demand the cornea to maintain its transparency and to continuously renew its epithelial surface by replacing injured or aged cells through a rapid turnover process in which corneal stem/progenitor cells play an important role. Corneal stem/progenitor cells include mainly corneal epithelial stem cells, corneal endothelial cell progenitors and corneal stromal stem cells. Since the discovery of corneal epithelial stem cells (also known as limbal stem cells) in 1971, an increasing number of markers for corneal stem/progenitor cells have been proposed, but there is no consensus regarding the definitive markers for them. Therefore, the identification, isolation and cultivation of these cells remain challenging without a unified approach. In this review, we systematically introduce the profile of biological characterizations, such as anatomy, characteristics, isolation, cultivation and molecular markers, and clinical applications of the three categories of corneal stem/progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Xi Ying
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Chang Huang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200030, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia, Fudan University, Shanghai 200030, China
- Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Zhi-Hong Li
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Shock and Microcirculation, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510550, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qing-Yi Mao
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Sheng Fu
- Hengyang Medical School, The University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China
| | - Xu-Hui Jia
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yu-Chen Cao
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Li-Bing Hong
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Li-Yang Cai
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xi Guo
- Medical College of Rehabilitation, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ru-Bing Liu
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Fan-ke Meng
- Emergency Department, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Guo-Guo Yi
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, Guangdong Province, China
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24
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Corneal Regeneration Using Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Cells 2022; 11:cells11162549. [PMID: 36010626 PMCID: PMC9406486 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Adipose-derived stem cells are a subtype of mesenchymal stem cell that offers the important advantage of being easily obtained (in an autologous manner) from low invasive procedures, rendering a high number of multipotent stem cells with the potential to differentiate into several cellular lineages, to show immunomodulatory properties, and to promote tissue regeneration by a paracrine action through the secretion of extracellular vesicles containing trophic factors. This secretome is currently being investigated as a potential source for a cell-free based regenerative therapy for human tissues, which would significantly reduce the involved costs, risks and law regulations, allowing for a broader application in real clinical practice. In the current article, we will review the existing preclinical and human clinical evidence regarding the use of such adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells for the regeneration of the three main layers of the human cornea: the epithelium (derived from the surface ectoderm), the stroma (derived from the neural crest mesenchyme), and the endothelium (derived from the neural crest cells).
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25
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Ma W, Wei X, Gu H, Liu D, Luo W, Cao S, Jia S, He Y, Chen L, Bai Y, Yuan Z. Intra-amniotic transplantation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor-modified mesenchymal stem cells treatment for rat fetuses with spina bifida aperta. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:413. [PMID: 35964077 PMCID: PMC9375302 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-03105-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spina bifida aperta (SBA) is a relatively common clinical type of neural tube defect. Although prenatal fetal surgery has been proven to be an effective treatment for SBA, the recovery of neurological function remains unsatisfactory due to neuron deficiencies. Our previous results demonstrated that intra-amniotic transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) could preserve neural function through lesion-specific engraftment and regeneration. To further optimize the role of BMSCs and improve the environment of defective spinal cords so as to make it more conducive to nerve repair, the intra-amniotic transplanted BMSCs were modified with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF-BMSCs), and the therapeutic potential of BDNF-BMSCs was verified in this study. Methods BMSCs were modified by adenovirus encoding a green fluorescent protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Ad-GFP-BDNF) in vitro and then transplanted into the amniotic cavity of rat fetuses with spina bifida aperta which were induced by all-trans-retinoic acid on embryonic day 15. Immunofluorescence, western blot and real-time quantitative PCR were used to detect the expression of different neuron markers and apoptosis-related genes in the defective spinal cords. Lesion areas of the rat fetuses with spina bifida aperta were measured on embryonic day 20. The microenvironment changes after intra-amniotic BDNF-BMSCs transplantation were investigated by a protein array with 90 cytokines. Results We found that BDNF-BMSCs sustained the characteristic of directional migration, engrafted at the SBA lesion area, increased the expression of BDNF in the defective spinal cords, alleviated the apoptosis of spinal cord cells, differentiated into neurons and skin-like cells, reduced the area of skin lesions, and improved the amniotic fluid microenvironment. Moreover, the BDNF-modified BMSCs showed a better effect than pure BMSCs on the inhibition of apoptosis and promotion of neural differentiation. Conclusion These findings collectively indicate that intra-amniotic transplanted BDNF-BMSCs have an advantage of promoting the recovery of defective neural tissue of SBA fetuses. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-022-03105-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Ma
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Xiaowei Wei
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Hui Gu
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Wenting Luo
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Songying Cao
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Shanshan Jia
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Yiwen He
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Lizhu Chen
- Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuzuo Bai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhengwei Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China.
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26
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Yang X, Wen X, Dai J, Chen Y, Ding W, Wang J, Gu X, Zhang X, Chen J, Sutliff RL, Emory SR, Ruan G. Probing the Intracellular Delivery of Nanoparticles into Hard-to-Transfect Cells. ACS NANO 2022; 16:8751-8765. [PMID: 35579595 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c07648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Hard-to-transfect cells are cells that are known to present special difficulties in intracellular delivery of exogenous entities. However, the special transport behaviors underlying the special delivery problem in these cells have so far not been examined carefully. Here, we combine single-particle motion analysis, cell biology studies, and mathematical modeling to investigate nanoparticle transport in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), a technologically important type of hard-to-transfect cells. Tat peptide-conjugated quantum dots (QDs-Tat) were used as the model nanoparticles. Two different yet complementary single-particle methods, namely, pair-correlation function and single-particle tracking, were conducted on the same cell samples and on the same viewing stage of a confocal microscope. Our results reveal significant differences in each individual step of transport of QDs-Tat in BMSCs vs a commonly used model cell line, HeLa cells. Single-particle motion analysis demonstrates that vesicle escape and cytoplasmic diffusion are dramatically more difficult in BMSCs than in HeLa cells. Cell biology studies show that BMSCs use different biological pathways for the cellular uptake, vesicular transport, and exocytosis of QDs-Tat than HeLa cells. A reaction-diffusion-advection model is employed to mathematically integrate the individual steps of cellular transport and can be used to predict and design nanoparticle delivery in BMSCs. This work provides dissective, quantitative, and mechanistic understandings of nanoparticle transport in BMSCs. The investigative methods described in this work can help to guide the tailored design of nanoparticle-based delivery in specific types and subtypes of hard-to-transfect cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210023
- Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China 215123
- Nanobiotechnology & Nanomedicine Center, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China 215123
- Institute of Materials Engineering of Nanjing University, Nantong, China 226001
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen, China 518063
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210093
| | - Xiaowei Wen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210023
- Institute of Materials Engineering of Nanjing University, Nantong, China 226001
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen, China 518063
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210093
| | - Jie Dai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210023
- Institute of Materials Engineering of Nanjing University, Nantong, China 226001
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen, China 518063
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210093
| | - Yanming Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210023
- Institute of Materials Engineering of Nanjing University, Nantong, China 226001
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen, China 518063
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210093
| | - Wanchuan Ding
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210023
- Institute of Materials Engineering of Nanjing University, Nantong, China 226001
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen, China 518063
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210093
| | - Jun Wang
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China 211166
| | - Xiang Gu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210023
- Institute of Materials Engineering of Nanjing University, Nantong, China 226001
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen, China 518063
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210093
| | - Xuejin Zhang
- Department of Quantum Electronics and Optical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210023
- National Center of Microstructure and Quantum Manipulation, National Lab of Solid State Microstructure, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210093
| | - Jin Chen
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China 211166
| | - Roy L Sutliff
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Steven R Emory
- Department of Chemistry, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington 98225, United States
| | - Gang Ruan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210023
- Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China 215123
- Nanobiotechnology & Nanomedicine Center, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China 215123
- Institute of Materials Engineering of Nanjing University, Nantong, China 226001
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen, China 518063
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China 210093
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27
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Chen YH, Wang FY, Chan YS, Huang C, Huang YY. Biofabricating hollow microneedle array with controllable microstructure for cell transplantation. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2022; 110:1997-2005. [PMID: 35294097 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.35054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Microneedles improve upon the direct injection method by piercing the epidermis to create microchannels for drug delivery in a painless and minimally invasive way. With these microchannels, large macromolecules can penetrate the skin barrier to reach the underlying target tissue. In this study, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) hollow microneedles (HMN) arrays were fabricated to transplant cells. The result showed that HMN arrays have good biocompatibility. Human epidermal melanocytes and follicle dermal papilla cells were shown to be successfully delivered to acellular porcine skin tissue. Similarly, human corneal keratocytes and corneal epithelial cells were shown to be successfully delivered to acellular porcine corneal tissue. The delivered cells proliferated and penetrated into the tissue. This system may have the potential in the application of cell delivery or cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Hou Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Ying Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yong-Shi Chan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Yi-You Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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28
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Elhusseiny AM, Soleimani M, Eleiwa TK, ElSheikh RH, Frank CR, Naderan M, Yazdanpanah G, Rosenblatt MI, Djalilian AR. OUP accepted manuscript. Stem Cells Transl Med 2022; 11:259-268. [PMID: 35303110 PMCID: PMC8968724 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szab028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The corneal epithelium serves to protect the underlying cornea from the external environment and is essential for corneal transparency and optimal visual function. Regeneration of this epithelium is dependent on a population of stem cells residing in the basal layer of the limbus, the junction between the cornea and the sclera. The limbus provides the limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) with an optimal microenvironment, the limbal niche, which strictly regulates their proliferation and differentiation. Disturbances to the LESCs and/or their niche can lead to the pathologic condition known as limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) whereby the corneal epithelium is not generated effectively. This has deleterious effects on the corneal and visual function, due to impaired healing and secondary corneal opacification. In this concise review, we summarize the characteristics of LESCs and their niche, and present the current and future perspectives in the management of LSCD with an emphasis on restoring the function of the limbal niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelrahman M Elhusseiny
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Mohammad Soleimani
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Taher K Eleiwa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Reem H ElSheikh
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Charles R Frank
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Morteza Naderan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ghasem Yazdanpanah
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mark I Rosenblatt
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ali R Djalilian
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Corresponding author: Ali R. Djalilian, Cornea Service, Stem Cell Therapy and Corneal Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, 1855 W. Taylor Street, M/C 648, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
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29
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Sánchez-Porras D, Caro-Magdaleno M, González-Gallardo C, García-García ÓD, Garzón I, Carriel V, Campos F, Alaminos M. Generation of a Biomimetic Substitute of the Corneal Limbus Using Decellularized Scaffolds. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1718. [PMID: 34684011 PMCID: PMC8541096 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with severe limbal damage and limbal stem cell deficiency are a therapeutic challenge. We evaluated four decellularization protocols applied to the full-thickness and half-thickness porcine limbus, and we used two cell types to recellularize the decellularized limbi. The results demonstrated that all protocols achieved efficient decellularization. However, the method that best preserved the transparency and composition of the limbus extracellular matrix was the use of 0.1% SDS applied to the half-thickness limbus. Recellularization with the limbal epithelial cell line SIRC and human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) was able to generate a stratified epithelium able to express the limbal markers p63, pancytokeratin, and crystallin Z from day 7 in the case of SIRC and after 14-21 days of induction when hADSCs were used. Laminin and collagen IV expression was detected at the basal lamina of both cell types at days 14 and 21 of follow-up. Compared with control native limbi, tissues recellularized with SIRC showed adequate picrosirius red and alcian blue staining intensity, whereas limbi containing hADSCs showed normal collagen staining intensity. These preliminary results suggested that the limbal substitutes generated in this work share important similarities with the native limbus and could be potentially useful in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Sánchez-Porras
- Department of Histology and Tissue Engineering Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Granada and Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, E18016 Granada, Spain; (D.S.-P.); (Ó.D.G.-G.); (I.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Manuel Caro-Magdaleno
- Division of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Universidad de Sevilla, E41009 Seville, Spain;
| | | | - Óscar Darío García-García
- Department of Histology and Tissue Engineering Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Granada and Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, E18016 Granada, Spain; (D.S.-P.); (Ó.D.G.-G.); (I.G.); (V.C.)
- Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine, Escuela Internacional de Posgrado, Universidad de Granada, E18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Ingrid Garzón
- Department of Histology and Tissue Engineering Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Granada and Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, E18016 Granada, Spain; (D.S.-P.); (Ó.D.G.-G.); (I.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Víctor Carriel
- Department of Histology and Tissue Engineering Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Granada and Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, E18016 Granada, Spain; (D.S.-P.); (Ó.D.G.-G.); (I.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Fernando Campos
- Department of Histology and Tissue Engineering Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Granada and Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, E18016 Granada, Spain; (D.S.-P.); (Ó.D.G.-G.); (I.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Miguel Alaminos
- Department of Histology and Tissue Engineering Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Granada and Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, E18016 Granada, Spain; (D.S.-P.); (Ó.D.G.-G.); (I.G.); (V.C.)
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Goals and Challenges of Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Corneal Blindness Due to Limbal Deficiency. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13091483. [PMID: 34575560 PMCID: PMC8466237 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13091483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal failure is a highly prevalent cause of blindness. One special cause of corneal failure occurs due to malfunction or destruction of the limbal stem cell niche, upon which the superficial cornea depends for homeostatic maintenance and wound healing. Failure of the limbal niche is referred to as limbal stem cell deficiency. As the corneal epithelial stem cell niche is easily accessible, limbal stem cell-based therapy and regenerative medicine applied to the ocular surface are among the most highly advanced forms of this novel approach to disease therapy. However, the challenges are still great, including the development of cell-based products and understanding how they work in the patient's eye. Advances are being made at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels to alter disease processes and to reduce or eliminate blindness. Efforts must be coordinated from the most basic research to the most clinically oriented projects so that cell-based therapies can become an integrated part of the therapeutic armamentarium to fight corneal blindness. We undoubtedly are progressing along the right path because cell-based therapy for eye diseases is one of the most successful examples of global regenerative medicine.
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